Kids Neuroscience Centre turns 25!

Researchers and honoured guests of the Kids Neuroscience Centre (KNC) were joined by patients and families at Government House to celebrate 25 years of innovative research; finding answers and transforming the lives of children with neurological conditions and their families.

The event was an opportunity to recognise the tremendous bravery, commitment and contribution families provide to research. It is their participation that helps drive research innovation and how we support children living with neurological conditions.

Long supporters and Patrons of KNC were in attendance, Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW and Mr Dennis Wilson. KNC have been grateful for their unwavering support over the last five years, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Without their generosity, the celebration in the splendour of Government House would not have been possible.

The evening brought together affiliate organisational leaders, like the Hon Kristina Keneally, Chief Executive Officer of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, Adj A/Prof Paula Bray, Director of Research at The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and Prof Antoine van Oijen, A/Dean Research, The University of Sydney. Several KNC research leaders and some of their patients and families were also in attendance, the event an opportunity to share the long legacy of research with those who have been directly impacted.

Hugo was a part of a world-first collaborative study that trialled a clinically monitored ketogenic diet to help with debilitating brain fog episodes associated with Kabuki Syndrome (read the full story). The trial dramatically changed Hugo’s life, resolving the episodes of brain fog and considerably improving his concentration and focus.

The night received overwhelmingly moving and positive feedback from guests in attendance.

“The work being done across the Kids Neuroscience Centre is truly amazing and inspiring and gives great hope to families like ours affected by genetic diseases. Grace was so very excited and slept with her gold Government House coin she received last night!”

Penny, Al’s mum, added, “I felt enormously privileged to be there. I am so grateful for the Kids Neuroscience Centre and their interest, commitment, research and intelligence. Proof of their work and outcomes sat next to me, my young adult son, Al, in his wheelchair, a smile of delight on his face”.

“Thank you to Kids Neuroscience Centre and Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley for keeping our kids front and centre.”

Around half of children in hospital have a neurological condition, and for many of these it can be challenging to provide individualised treatment at the right time.

The last 10 years has seen a diagnostic revolution, where the latest advances in genomics and immunomics has given KNC the ability to diagnose the previously undiagnosable and help thousands of families get the answers they’ve been searching for.

The next 10 years is hoped to take that a step further by exploring how individualised precision medicine can transform the way children with neurological conditions are treated and find treatments for the currently untreatable.

Part of this will involve establishing an integrated Precision Diagnostics to Care pathway across both The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick for all families with children affected by a neurological condition.

The last 25 years of innovative paediatric neuroscience research has only been possible through the generous support of families, partner organisations and donors. This will continue to be important for the future, as KNC work to continue transforming the lives of children and their families.

Kids Neuroscience Centre is part of Kids Research, the research body of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. They are supported by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, Children’s Medical Research Institute and University of Sydney.

See more photos of the evening below.